Elastic bandage

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an elastic bandage for medical use. A base part of the bandage is made of pure cotton cloth or other fabric with a cloth cover on a transverse side in which a drainage aperture is defined. On opposite transverse sides of the base part there are respectively provided two outlying parts of the bandage with a drainage aperture in each of them. On opposite transverse sides of the base part there are respectively two safety bands and two suspenders on a longitudinal side of base part. The safety bands and the outlying parts are fastened together with fasteners.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/193,788 filed Feb. 8,1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,307.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an elastic bandage for medical use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing post-operative bandages, popularly known as "multi-headbandages", are made of pure cotton or unwoven fabric and comprise apiece of rectangular cloth with a number of cloth strips on two opposingsides of the cloth. A patient, after having an operation in the chest orabdomen, would have this bandage applied for protection andstabilization of the operation wound or incision. This type of bandageusually requires two medical personnel to wind it around the woundedportion of a patient. Once the bandage is wound around the patient, thecloth strips on opposite sides are successively overlapped on each otherand tightly fastened together. If a drainage tube or other drainagedevice is needed for the wound, it may be placed in a gap between thecloth strips of the bandage.

The prior art devices suffer from the disadvantage of being cumbersome.The prior bandage requires two skilled individuals for application. Apatient cannot handle the bandage himself. Additionally, the priorbandage is not elastic and applies uneven pressure to a wound. Unevenpressure on a wound may result in uneven healing of the wound anddiscomfort to the wearer.

The prior bandage is susceptible to loosening or displacement due topatient motion. If the bandage is wound too tightly, the patient maysuffer a feeling of constriction. If the bandage is wound too loosely,the analgesic effect from the pressure of the bandage is lost. Also,because the drainage tube is placed between a gap in the cloth strips ofthe bandage, it is liable to be become twisted or constricted and itsdrainage capacity impeded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a bandage for medical use made ofelastic and other fabric. It has the advantages of being elastic,providing even pressure to the wound, and providing an analgesic effectfrom the pressure without a feeling of constriction. Its elasticityprevents loosening or sliding due to patient motion. Its substantiallyeven pressure and stability allows for the smooth and clean healing of awound. For added durability, a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention discloses loops for removably securing receptacles such asbottles or bags on the bandage and drainage openings in the bandage tofacilitate unimpeded drainage from a wound. Further improvement includesthe addition of a relatively thin padding sheet, provided in the areawhere the various bandage members are connected.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The elastic bandage comprises a base bandage member, two outlyingbandage members, a cloth cover, and corresponding fasteners. It may alsocomprise two relatively thin padding sheets, two safety bandage members,two suspenders, and corresponding connectors and fasteners.

In its preferred embodiment, he base bandage member is made of purecotton or other fabric. As well, it is isosceles trapezoidal in shape ifused as a chest bandage, to conform to the V-shape, larger on the upperpart than on the lower part, of the typical human torso. It isrectangular in shape if used in other applications.

The two outlying bandage members are made of elastic materials. Each hasa length substantially equal to that of the base bandage member, forpurposes of providing evenly distributing pressure throughout thebandage. Each is either trapezoidal or rectangular in shape,corresponding to the shape of the base bandage member. Each is sewinglyjoined on a proximal edge, respectively with opposite transverse edgesof the base bandage member. Each has fasteners located on a distal edgeof each outlying bandage member, so that the two outlying bandagemembers may be fastened together at their distal ends. At least oneoutlying member also has a centrally located fastener, so that it may beconnected to a corresponding safety bandage member.

The cloth cover is made of cotton or other sterile material. It issewingly attached to the location where one of the outlying bandagemembers is joined with the base bandage member. The cloth cover and atleast one the outlying bandage members contain corresponding drainageopenings. A tube may be inserted in the drainage opening to facilitatedraining of the wound.

Further, the bandage may contain a two relatively thin padding sheets.This provides added durability. The padding sheets are made of foamedplastic or other cushioning materials. They have width substantiallyequal to that of the outlying and base bandage members. The sheets areprovided around the two joints formed where each outlying bandage memberis connected to the base bandage member. Also, at least one of thejoints may contain a loop for removably securing receptacles such asbottles or bags on the bandage. Such a receptacle may be connected to atube inserted in the drainage openings, so that drainage from the woundmay be received and contained.

Two safety bandage members may be used in the invention to increasepressure upon the wound, further preventing unwanted motion of thebandage. The safety bandage members are made of elastic fabric. Each istrapezoidal or rectangular in shape, corresponding to the shape of thebase bandage member. Each is sewingly attached on a proximal edgerespectively to opposite locations where the outlying bandage membersare joined with the base bandage member, on a side of the base bandagemember opposite the cover cloth. The length of the safety bandagemembers is less than that of the base and outlying bandage members, toprovide pressure beyond that available from the base and outlyingbandage members alone. Fasteners are located on a distal edge of eachsafety bandage member and on a central part of at least one safetybandage member, so that at least one safety bandage member may befastened to at least one, corresponding outlying member, and so that thetwo safety bandage members may be fastened together at their distalends.

Two suspenders may be used to help support the bandage upon the wound,in applications such as a chest bandage. The suspenders are made ofelastic fabric. Each suspender is sewingly attached to a longitudinaledge of the base bandage member and is spaced apart from the other. Twoconnectors are each located on a longitudinal edge of each outlyingbandage member, corresponding to the edge where the suspenders arelocated. The suspenders may be connected to the connectors. The bandageis operated as follows:

The base bandage member is placed on a side of a body opposite the woundto be bandaged. The cloth cover is brought around the body to cover thewound. Each outlying bandage member is brought around its respectiveside of the body and is fastened to the other.

Additionally, each safety bandage member is brought around itsrespective side of the body. At least one safety member is fastened toat least one outlying bandage member. Then the two safety bandagemembers are fastened together.

Further, each suspender is pulled up over the top of the body portionbeing bandaged. Each suspender is then pulled down and respectivelyconnected to a corresponding connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 1--1 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment as it appearswhen fastened for use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, base bandage member 1 is made of purecotton or elastic fabric. Length T of the base bandage member 1 may bevaried to accommodate patients of different size and stature. Width t₁is slightly greater than width t₂ when the invention is used as a chestbandage, due to the V-shape, larger on the upper part than on the lowerpart, of the typical human torso. Width t₁ and width t₂ of the basebandage member are equal when the invention is used as a generalapplication bandage. Cloth cover 2 is rectangular in shape and made ofpure cotton or other sterile fabric. Cloth cover 2 is attached to a edgeof base bandage member 1. The length of the cover is equal to length Tof base bandage member 1. Horizontal drainage opening 3 is locatedwithin cover cloth 2. A drainage tube may pass through drainage opening3.

Outlying bandage members 4 and 5 are made of elastic fabric. Outlyingbandage members 4 and 5 are sewingly attached to base bandage member 1each on an opposite transverse edge of base bandage member 1. Outlyingbandage member 4 is located along the same edge as cloth cover 2. Thelength of the outlying bandage members is equal to length T. The widthof the outlying bandage members is slightly longer than width t₁. Adrainage opening (not shown) is located on outlying bandage member 4 ata position which corresponds to the drainage opening 3 in cover cloth 2.A drainage opening may optionally be located on outlying bandage member5 at a position which corresponds to drainage opening 3. Fasteners 7 and8 may be nylon, plastic, or metallic buttons or other known fasteningdevices. Fasteners 7 and 8 are respectively attached to distal ends ofoutlying bandage members 4 and 5. The outlying bandage members can befastened together by joining fasteners 7 and 8 and the entire bandagecan be fixedly bound around a patient.

Safety bandage members 9 and 10 are made of elastic fabric. Safetybandage members 9 and 10 can be used to increase the pressure of thebandage. Safety bandage members 9 and 10 may be attached to base bandagemember 1 each on opposite transverse edges of the base bandage member.The length of safety bandage members 9 and 10 is less than length T. Thelength of safety bandage members 9 and 10 is less than that of outlyingbandage members 4 and 5. Fasteners 11 and 12 are respectively attachedto distal ends of safety bandage members 9 and 10. Fastener 13 isattached to a central location on a side of outlying bandage member 4,facing safety bandage member 9. Fastener 14 is attached to a centrallocation, corresponding to the location of fastener 13, on a side ofsafety bandage member 10 opposite outlying bandage member 5. Fasteners11, 12, 13 and 14 may be nylon, plastic, or metallic buttons or otherknown fastening devices.

Safety bandage members 9 and 10 are necessary when the present inventionis used as a chest bandage or in other applications where added pressureis necessary. When the safety bandage members are used, fasteners 12 and13 are fastened together, as are fasteners 11 and 14. This increasespressure on the patient's wound.

Padding sheets 15 and 16 are made of foamed plastic or similarmaterials. Padding sheets 15 and 16 are interposed around the jointsformed where outlying bandage members 4 and 5 (or safety bandage members9 and 10) are attached to base bandage member 1.

Loop 17 is located where outlying bandage member 5 is attached to basebandage member 1, on the same side of the attachment as outlying bandagemember 5. Alternately, a loop may also be located where outlying bandagemember 6 is attached to base bandage member 1, on the same side of theattachment as outlying bandage member 6. Loop 17 may be used toremovably secure receptacles such as bottles or bags on the bandage.

Suspenders 18 and 19 are made of elastic fabric. Suspenders 18 and 19may be used when the present invention is used as a chest bandage or inother applications whore added support is necessary and available.Suspenders 18 and 19 can be attached to a longitudinal side of basebandage member 1, spaced apart from each other. Connecting strips 20 and21 can be respectively attached on a longitudinal side, corresponding tothe longitudinal side on which the suspenders are attached, of outlyingbandage members 4 and 5. Suspender 18 and connecting strip 20, andsuspender 19 and connecting strip 21 may be interconnected to each otherby either tying them in a knot or by providing fasteners on ends of theconnecting strips.

We claim:
 1. An elastic bandage for medical use, comprising:a. a fabricbase bandage member, having two longitudinal and two transverse sides;b. two outlying bandage members made of elastic fabric, each having twolongitudinal and two transverse sides,each outlying bandage memberrespectively attached along a transverse side to an opposite transverseside of the base bandage member, each outlying bandage member having adistal end opposite its attached transverse side, the attachedtransverse sides of the outlying bandage members each being of a lengthsubstantially equal to that of the corresponding transverse sides of thebase bandage member, at least one outlying bandage member containing adrainage opening; c. fasteners located on distal ends of the outlyingbandage member.
 2. The elastic bandage for metrical use of claim 1,including:a. two suspenders, made of elastic fabric, attached to alongitudinal side of the base bandage member, spaced apart from eachother; and b. two fasteners respectively located on a longitudinal sideof each of the outlying bandage members, said longitudinal side of eachof the outlying bandage members corresponding to the longitudinal sideof the base bandage member on which the suspenders are attached.
 3. Theelastic bandage for medical use of claim 1, including two thin paddingsheets, of length substantially equal to that of the base bandagemember, provided in the spaces formed where each of the outlying bandagemembers is attached to the base bandage member.
 4. The elastic bandagefor medical use of claim 1, including at least one loop attached to thebase bandage member where the outlying bandage members are attached tothe base bandage member on a side of the outlying bandage membersopposite the cloth cover.
 5. An elastic bandage for medical usecomprising:a. a base bandage member, having two longitudinal and twotransverse sides, made of fabric; b. two outlying bandage members, madeof elastic fabric, each having two longitudinal and two transversesides,each outlying bandage member respectively attached along atransverse side to an opposite transverse side of the base bandagemember, each outlying bandage member having a distal end opposite itsattached transverse side, the attached transverse sides of the outlyingbandage member each being of a length substantially equal to that of thecorresponding transverse sides of the base bandage member, at least oneoutlying bandage member containing a drainage opening; d. two safetybandage members, made of elastic fabric, of length less than that of thebase bandage members, attached to the base bandage member where theoutlying bandage members are attached to the base bandage member, on aside of the outlying bandage members opposite the cover cloth; and e.fasteners located on distal ends of the safety bandage members, on aside of each safety bandage member facing the base bandage member, atleast one fastener located on a surface of one of the outlying bandagemembers, facing the corresponding safety bandage member, and at leastone fastener located on a surface of the other safety bandage member,facing the corresponding outlying bandage member.
 6. The elastic bandagefor medical use of claim 5, including:a. two suspenders, made of elasticfabric, attached to a longitudinal side of the base bandage member,spaced apart from each other; and b. two fasteners respectively locatedon a longitudinal side of each of the outlying bandage members, saidlongitudinal side of each of the outlying bandage members correspondingto the longitudinal side of the base bandage member on which thesuspenders are attached.
 7. The elastic bandage for medical use of claim5, including two thin padding sheets, of length substantially equal tothat of the base bandage member, provided in the spaces formed whereeach of the outlying bandage members is attached to the base bandagemember.